Embraer selects Thales IFF systems for military aircraft upgrades

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has awarded Thales a contract to supply IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) transponders for the upgrade of A1M fighters and E-99 AEW surveillance aircraft in service with the Brazilian Air Force. A total of 48 aircraft will be retrofitted with the new IFF transponders.

Thales will supply its TSC 2030 and TSC 2050 transponders, which are part of the company's BlueGate range of IFF products and provide a digital identification capability in line with NATO's MKXA standard. The aircraft equipped with the new IFF systems will be fully interoperable to overcome risks of friendly fire.

"This IFF retrofit programme for the Brazilian Air Force shows that Thales's BlueGate IFF solutions are an excellent fit for upgrading existing aircraft," said Jean-Michel Lagarde, CEO of Thales Communications & Security. "We are proud to have been selected by Embraer and delighted to have this opportunity to further strengthen our relationship with this major industry player."

The panel mounted TSC 2030 transponders and the remote 2050 transponders rely on the latest technologies and meet all the most recent standards and regulations defined by NATO and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). They are designed to operate either in national secure cryptographic mode or in the secure identification modes used by NATO forces (Modes 4 and 5).